#037: The Bottom Line - Local Business Leaders, Local Businesses & Business Supports Available

Carlow Businessman David Walsh one of the founders of Netwatch, EY Entrepreneur of the Year finalist and former president of Carlow Chamber of Commerce talks to John about all aspects of business during the covid-19 crisis. He discusses the impacts on business, the uniqueness of this crisis as both demand and supply are affected and also the speed & the depth of the crisis which is occurring globally. He also highlights how important it is to have a dual strategy one in which businesses are surviving during the crisis but also to prepare for when business can be resumed.Declan Rice, CEO of Kilkenny Leader Partnership chats to John on how his organisation is remaining operational and in support of businesses. Declan discusses the need to continue working and adapting through this “new norm” and how Leader have in excess of  €1.5million in funding available to support businesses & community projects throughout Kilkenny City & County. Further information can be found at www.Cklp.ieMichele Neylon  Owner & CEO of Blacknight Solutions in Carlow, chats to John on operating remotely to assist businesses to expand their on line presence or get online for the first time, which in the current business climate is essential for many in order to continue to operate.  Michele also discusses the importance of security for on line business and offers some simple tips on how people can communicate via video conferencing more securely & work more effectively from home remotely. www.blacknight.comFiona Deegan, Head of Enterprise with Local Enterprise Office, Kilkenny spoke with John on the supports available to business at present. Two supports in particular that Fiona highlighted were Microfinance Ireland – Covid 19 Small Business Loans and the Trading Online Voucher Scheme as both has been subject to further changes during the week. Fiona also spoke about the new Business Continuity Voucher, available through Local Enterprise Offices, which is designed for businesses across every sector that employ up to 50 people. All information on the above can be found at https://www.localenterprise.ie/Kilkenny/ or for Carlow https://www.localenterprise.ie/Carlow/Martin Corkery, Regional Director of Enterprise Ireland chats to John on the range of new & existing supports that are in place for to assist businesses in continuing to operate at present as well as to assist businesses to get back up and working once restrictions have been lifted. Martin also highlights that one of the big challenges for companies is around the area of financial planning and the importance of having a good financial plan in place. www.enterprise-ireland.comA local company who has adapted their business to match the needs of frontline workers is Thomastown based company Surfbox, their business has seen a dramatic pivot in their operations & Tom Marry spoke with John on how his company has started producing face shields with the use of 3D printers from public libraries. www.surfbox.ieWith thanks to O’Neill Foley https://onf.ie/Produced by Deirdre Dromey.To contact the show, email [email protected]